Combination surface treating and suction cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a combined surface treating and polishing and suction cleaning apparatus having rotatable brushes movable over a surface. A movable control shutter in a first position covers an opening in the air passageway of the suction cleaning component of the apparatus so that it will operate properly as a suction cleaner. When the control shutter is in its first position mechanism for dispensing liquid wax from a container onto the surface is rendered inoperable. When the control shutter is in its first position a vessel for holding a body of liquid treating agent cannot be removably mounted on the apparatus for dispensing such liquid onto the surface. In the second position of the control shutter the opening in the passageway of the suction cleaning component is uncovered so that atmospheric air will be drawn into the air passageway by a fan and the apparatus cannot operate properly as a suction cleaner. When the control shutter is in its second position the mechanism for dispensing liquid wax from its container is rendered operable. When the control shutter is in its second position the vessel for the liquid treating agent can be removably mounted on the apparatus for dispensing such agent onto the surface. The mechanism for dispensing wax from its container and the mechanism for dispensing liquid treating agent from the vessel include parts which are common to both mechanisms, such parts operating in one way to dispense liquid wax from its container when the vessel for liquid treating agent is not mounted on the apparatus and operating in another way to dispense liquid treating agent from the vessel when it is mounted on the apparatus.

United States Patent Crener et al. 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] COMBINATION SURFACE TREATING AND SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS ABSTRACT [72] Inventors: Bengt Olof Crener, Taby; Erik Am A This invention relates to a combined surface treating and derson, Hagersten; Stig Carl-Oskar Emolf, polishing and suction cleaning apparatus having rotatable s ll m ll f S d brushes movable over a surface. A movable control shutter in a first position covers an 0 enin in the air assa ewa of the [73] Asslgnee: Aktlebolaget Electrolux, Stockholm, suction cleaning compone ilt of the appara t us s: that! it will swede operate properly as a suction cleaner. When the control [22] Filed: Dec. 11, I969 shutter is in its first position mechanism for dispensing liquid wax from a container onto the surface is rendered inoperable.

Appl' 884166 When the control shutter is in its first position a vessel for holding a body of liquid treating agent cannot be removably 30 Foreign A li ti Priority Data mounted on the apparatus for dispensing such liquid onto the surface. In the second position of the control shutter the open- Dec. 1 l, l968 Sweden l 6899/68 ing in the passageway ofthe Suction cleaning componem is covered so that atmospheric air will be drawn into the air [52] US. Cl. ..l5/320, lS/SO R, 15/337, passageway by a fan and the apparatus cannot operate 15/350 15/385 properly as a suction cleaner. When the control shutter is in its [5 I 1 Int. Cl. second position the mechanism for dispensing wax from 0' Search R, its c ai s nd d ope a e w en the co ol n i in its second position the vessel for the liquid treating agent [56] References cued can be removably mounted on the apparatus for dispensing UNITED STATES PATENTS such agent onto the surface. The mechanism for dispensing wax from its container and the mechanism for dispensing 3,029,461 4/1962 OSbOI'l'l liquid treating agent from the vessel include parts which are 3,101,505 8/1963 Belicka 8t 1-. 15/50 R X common to both mechanisms, such parts operating in one way 3,316,579 5/1967 Smith "15/320 to dispense liquid wax from its container when the vessel for R treating agent is not mounted on the apparatus and Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins Assistant Examiner-C K. Moore Attomey-Edmund A. Fenander operating in another way to dispense liquid treating agent from the vessel when it is mounted on the apparatus.

15 Claims, 26 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB 8872 SHEET 1 OF 7 slsaslsss PATENTED FEB 81972 SHEET 2 [IF 7 4 G I F PATENTED EB 1912 3.639.939

' SHEET 3 OF 7 l 50 i; W

PATENTED FEB 8I972 3.639.939

sum 6 0F 7 COMBINATION SURFACE TREATING AND SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of our invention to provide an improved surface treating and suction cleaning apparatus having rotatable brushes movable over a surface to be treated, and more particularly to provide such apparatus which is capable of functioning as a floor polisher, scrubber, cleaner or sander and has protective features which prevent malfunction thereof.

Another object is to provide a surface treating and cleaning apparatus of the character described having a compact arrangement of its components which function to effect suction cleaning or waxing and polishing or shampooing of a surface with the aid of one of several containers installed thereon and each of which is adapted to hold a difi erent kind of liquid treating substance.

In accordance with our invention we provide a control member movable between first and second positions, the control member movable in its first position closing an opening in the air passageway of the suction cleaning component of the apparatus so that the apparatus will operate properly as a suction cleaner. With the control member in its first position mechanism for dispensing liquid wax from a container onto a surface is rendered inoperable and a vessel for holding a body of liquid treating agent, such as liquid detergent, for example, cannot be mounted on the apparatus for dispensing such liquid onto a surface.

When the control member is in its second position the opening in the air passageway of the suction cleaning component of the apparatus is uncovered so that ambient air will be drawn into the air passageway by a fan whereby the apparatus cannot function property as a vacuum cleaner. With the control member in its second position the mechanism for dispensing liquid wax from its container is rendered operable and the vessel for the liquid treating agent can be removably mounted on the apparatus for dispensing such liquid therefrom.

The mechanism for dispensing liquid wax from its container and the mechanism for dispensing treating liquid from the vessel include parts which are common to both mechanisms, such parts operating in one manner to dispense liquid wax from the container when the vessel for liquid treating agent is not mounted on the apparatus and operating in another manner to dispense liquid treating agent from the vessel when it is mounted on the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a combined surface treating and polishing and suction cleaning apparatus embodying our invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the bottom part thereof being in horizontal section and the upper part thereof being in vertical section to illustrate details more clearly;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 with a vessel for dispensing liquid treating agent mounted thereon;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the housing mounted on the handle of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the housing shown in FIG. 4 with the cover thereof open;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the top of the handle of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken at line 77 of FIG. 5 before a dust bag is positioned in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the relationship of the parts when a dust bag is positioned in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 5;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrating the manner in which liquid wax is dispensed on a surface being treated;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the container adapted to hold a body of liquid wax;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the container is positioned in a compartment of the housing shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the bottom part of the wax container;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 12 illustrating the parts in different positions;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a bottom pan for the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken at line l5--15 ofFIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a vertical view diagrammatically illustrating the dispenser for liquid treating agent shown in FIG. 3 at the upper part of the handle;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of the top part of the handle shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of parts shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 18 with parts shown in different positions;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 20-20 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 20 with parts shown in different positions;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 22-22 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 23 and 24 are sectional views similar to FIG. 22 in which parts are shown in different positions;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged perspective view of details shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24; and

FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of parts shown in FIG. 25.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, we have shown our invention in connection with combined surface treating and polishing and suction cleaning apparatus 10 having three rotatable brushes 1], 12 and 14 which are the underside of a unit or base 15 and project downward therefrom for contact with a surface over which the unit or base is adapted to be moved. The brushes I1, 12 and 14 are rotatable on shafts 16 which are provided at the underside of the unit or base 15 and arranged to be driven by an electric motor 17, as will be described presently.

The combined surface treating and polishing and suction cleaning apparatus 10 is adapted to be manipulated by handle structure 18 having a housing 19 and spaced elongated members 20 which extend vertically upward from opposing sides of the housing 19, the upper ends of the members 20 being connected by a crossbar 21. To the crossbar 21 is fixed block 22 having a part 22a which is inclined to the vertical and to the upper end of which is fixed a handle or handgrip 23.

In order to be able to vary the effect of the weight of the electric motor 17 on the brushes ll, 12 and 14, the electric motor is mounted in the housing 19 on the handle structure 18. As seen in FIG. 2, the electric motor 17 and a fan 24 form a motor-fan unit 25 which is carried by framework 26 within the housing 19. The motor 17 is provided with a shaft 27 having a driving pulley 28 which is connected by an endless belt 29 to a pulley 30 fixed to an end of a drive shaft 31 joumaled in bearings 32 and 33, respectively, which are provided at the underside of the base or unit 15.

The drive shaft 31 is formed with a worm 34 arranged to drive a work gear 35 which is fixed to the brush I1 and rotatable on one of the shafts 16. The brush 11 can be employed to impart rotating movement to the brushes 12 and 14. This may be accomplished, for example, by arranging the brushes so that the rim of the brush 11 frictionally engages the rims of the brushes 12 and 14.

The housing 19 is provided with a pair of vertically disposed hollow legs 36 and 37 which are closed at their lower end and terminate at the axis of the drive shaft 31. The endless belt 29, which forms the mechanism operatively connecting the motor shaft 27 and drive shaft 31, is disposed in the leg 37 of the housing 19.

The hollow leg 36 of the housing 19 fonns part of a passageway for air having an air inlet 38 and an air outlet 39. The air inlet 38 receives air from the underside of the unit or base 15. The hollow leg 36, which is defined in part by the framework 26 within the housing 19, extends lengthwise of the housing at one side thereof from the air inlet 38 to the end of the housing remote from the base 15. The housing 19 is provided with a removable cover 40 which is hinged at 41 and provided with a suitable latch or fastener 42.

Within the cover 40 is arranged a conduit 43 which may be formed of plastic and has one end communicating with the hollow leg 36. The opposite end of the conduit 43 is connected to a tubular member 43a which extends into the air inlet 44a of an end cover 44b of a dust bag 44 supported at an opening in a partition 45 provided at the upper end of the housing 19. The tubular member 43a is provided with a suitable gasket 46 which is adapted to bear against the end cover 44b and form an airtight seal to make certain that all of the air flowing through the conduit 43 and tubular member 43a will be introduced into the dust bag 44. The dust bag 44 is disposed in a chamber 47 defined in part by the framework 26.

When the combined surface treating and polishing and suction cleaning apparatus thus far described is operated, the brushes ll, 12 and 14 are rotated by the motor 17, endless belt 29, worm 34 and worm gear 35 so as to polish or bufi the floor or other surface over which the apparatus is being moved. Simultaneously, motor 17 drives the fan 24 so that the suction or vacuum thus created produces airflow into the suction inlet 48a at the bottom of a nozzle 48 which is provided with bristles 48b and disposed at the underside of the base and connected by a conduit 49 to the air inlet 38, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 12.

The dust-laden air drawn through the suction inlet 48a of the nozzle 48 flows through conduit 49 to. the air inlet 38 and thence through the hollow leg 36 and the conduit 43 and tubular member 43a into the interior of the porous dust bag 44. Air from which dust has been removed flows through the bag 44 into chamber 47. Such air is discharged by the fan 24 through the motor 17 into a chamber 50 from which the'air flows from housing 19 through the air outlet 39.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the lower end of the handle structure 18 is pivoted on the base or unit 15 at the bearings 32 and 33, so that the handle structure 18 will be angularly movable on the base 15 while manipulating the apparatus 10 over a surface being treated. By angularly moving the handle structure 18 from and toward its upright position on the base, the effect of the weight of the motor 17 on the brushes 11, 12 and 14 can be varied.

In order to prevent the apparatus 10 from being operated when there is no dust bag 44 in the housing 19, we provide protective mechanism which acts to prevent the cover 40 from being moved to its closed position on the housing 19 so that the latch 42 cannot function to lock the cover. As best seen in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, the protective mechanism includes a prong 51 on the cover 40 which is adapted to project through an opening 52 of the partition 45 and another opening 53 in a platform 54 of the housing 19 beneath the partition 45. The partition 45 is apertured to receive a slide block 55 which has an opening 56 and is movable on the platform 54 between the two positions shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The slide block 55 is formed with an upstanding lug 5511 which is notched to receive an edge of the end cover 44b of the dust bag 44 when it is positioned over the opening in. the partition 45. Under these conditions the slide block 55 is moved from its position in FIG. 7 to its position in FIG. 8 against the action of a spring 57, thereby bringing the opening 56 in the slide block 55 in alignment with the openings 52 and 53 in the partition 45 and platfonn 54 and permitting the prong 51 to pass through the openings 52, 56 and 53, as seen in FIG. 8.

In FIG. 8 the slide block 55 has been moved toward the right to such an extent that the outer lip 55b thereof projects exteriorly of the housing 19 and is adapted to be engaged by a cooperating lip 42a of the latch 42 on the cover 40 to hold the latter in its closed position. When no dust bag 44 is positioned in the housing 19 the slide block 55 is biased to its position in FIG. 7 by the spring 57. Under these conditions the opening 56 in the slide block 55 is out of alignment with the openings 52 and 53 and functions as a stop to prevent prong 51 in the cover 40 from moving from its position in FIG. 7 to its position in FIG. 8. In FIG. 7 it will be seen that lip 55b of the slide block 55 does not project exteriorly of the housing 19 so that latch 42 cannot function to hold the cover 40 closed, thus preventing the apparatus from being operated to perform suction cleaning.

The cover 40 can be formed of a suitable plastic with the latch 42 an integral part of the cover. The latch 42 can be connected at 42b to the cover 40 in a resilient manner, thus permitting the latch 42 to be flexed outward from its latching position in FIG. 8 to permit the cover 40 to be moved from its closed to its open position.

A pan 58 of the shape shown in FIG. 14 may be positioned at the underside of the base 15 when the apparatus 10 is not being used to perform polishing. The pan 58 includes a flat bottom 58a and an upstanding sidewall 58b which is disposed about the base. The flat bottom 58a is formed with an elongated recessed portion 58c which extends into the suction inlet 48a of the nozzle 48.

The pan 58 forms a bottom plate for the apparatus 10 and functions as a closure member at the underside of the base 15 upon which the brushes 11, 12 and 14 can rest. Under these conditions the two spaced rear wheels or rollers 59 at the rear of the base 15 and the caster wheel 60 at the forward part thereof, which are seen in FIG. 9, also will rest on the top surface of the flat bottom 58a of the pan 58. By forming the pan 58 of a material like plastic, for example, which has a low coefficient of friction, the pan 58 can be employed as a suction nozzle for vacuum cleaning rugs and similar articles. Accordingly, the elongated recessed portion 580 of the pan 58 is formed with an intermediate hollow tubular section 58d which extends vertically upward within the suction inlet 48a of the nozzle 48.

A container 61, which is provided with a suitable filling cap 61a and adapted to hold a body of liquid treating agent, is removably held on the handle structure 18 on top of the housing 19. By way of example, the liquid in the container 61 may be of a type for shampooing rugs or for washing floors. The flow of liquid discharged through the bottom opening 62 in the container 61 is controlled by a needle valve 63, as shown in FIG. 16.

The valve 63 is connected to the lower end of an elongated rod 64, the upper end of which projects through a top opening 65 in the container 61. A valve 66 fixed to the rod 64 is adapted to close the top opening 65. The valves 63 and 66 are urged to their closed positions by a resilient spring 67 which is disposed about the rod 64 between the valve 66 and hub 68a of a spider 68 which is mounted in the container 60 and formed with spaced radial arms 68b.

The needle valve 63 is moved from its closed position by imparting downward movement to the upper end of the rod 64. When the valve 63 is moved from its closed position, the valve 66 also will be moved downward from its closed position to provide an air vent at the top opening 65 of the container 60, so that the inside of the container will be at atmospheric pressure to promote flow of liquid through the bottom opening 62.

The cover 40 of the housing 19 is provided with a tapered funnel 70 which projects upward from the underside of the cover when the latter is in its open position, as shown in FIG.

4. When the cover 40 is moved to its closed position seen in FIG. 5, the funnel 70 is inverted from the position shown in FIG. 5 and its narrow open end 700 enters an opening defined by a collar 71 in the partition 45 of the housing 19.

When the container 61 is removably mounted on the handle structure 18, the container rests on the cover 40 of the housing 19 and the bottom tapered part 61b of the container 61 nests in the funnel 70, as seen in FIG. 16. A flexible tube 72 is connected at its upper end to the bottom of the collar 71. The tube 72 passes through an opening in the top of the base and terminates at a region 72a within the base which is closely adjacent to the surface being treated at the vicinity of the brushes 11, 12 and 14.

With the container 61 in its mounted position on the handle structure 18, downward movement is imparted to the upper end of the vertical rod 64 by a rod 74 which is vertically movable in a hollow sleeve 75 in the crossbar 21 at the upper end of the handle structure. The rod 74 is in vertical alignment with the rod 64 and biased upward by a coil spring 76 disposed about the rod 74 between a top ledge 21a of the crossbar 21 and an operating button 77 at the upper end of the rod 74. By depressing the button 77 the rod 74 is moved downward which in turn moves rod 64 downward so that liquid from the container 61 will be dispensed on the surface being treated in the manner just explained.

A container 80, which is adapted to hold a body of liquid wax for waxing and polishing a surface being treated, is removably held in a compartment 82 adjacent a vertical sidewall of the housing 19. The lower end of the container 80, which may be formed of plastic, for example, is provided with a cap 83 which is threadedly connected thereto at 84 and formed with outlet 85.

Valve structure 86 is provided for controlling the discharge of liquid wax from the container 80. The valve structure 86 includes a vertically movable valve stem 87 having a valve 88 which moves toward and from its seat 89 within cap 83 and a disc 90 which moves toward its seat 91 at the bottom edge of an inner vertical wall 92 of an inverted U-shaped part 93 of annular fonn having a longer outer vertical wall 94 with its lower end threadedly connected at 95 to the cap 83. A coil spring 96 between the vertical walls 92 and 94 has one end bearing against the closed upper end of the walls and its opposite end against the disc 90 to resiliently bias the valve 88 downward to its closed position against the seat 89, as shown in FIG. 12.

When the container 80 is prevented from moving upward in its compartment 82 and upward movement is imparted to the valve stem 87 to open valve 88 and close disc 90 against its seat 91, as will be explained presently, a measured quantity of liquid wax will pass from the container through the outlet 85. This measured quantity of liquid wax is held in chamber 97 between the valve seat 89 and the disc seat 91. When the valve stem 87 subsequently moves downward by the biasing action of thespring 96, the valve 88 closes against its seat 89 and the disc 90 moves from its seat 91 so that the chamber 96 again will be filled with liquid wax between the valve seat 89 and disc seat 91 below a body of trapped air in the annular gap between the vertical walls 92 and 94.

The container 80 can be filled with wax by holding it in its inverted position and removing the threadedly connected cap 83 and valve structure 86 associated therewith.

Upward movement is imparted to valve 87 of the container 80 by mechanism which includes the vertical rod 74 having the operating button 77 at its upper end, as shown in FIG. 6. The rod 74 is formed with a shoulder 100 from which depends a rod section 101 of smaller cross-sectional area than the rod 74. Under certain conditions that will be explained presently, the rod 74 and rod section 101 pass through a laterally offset portion 102 of an opening 103 formed in one arm of a lever 104 pivotally mounted at 105 in the crossarm 21, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 20. Under the conditions assumed the shoulder 100 of the rod 74 will engage the part of lever 104 defining the laterally offset portion 102 of the opening 103. This depresses one arm of the lever 104 when the operating member 77 is depressed and raises the other arm, as seen in FIG. 18, to which the upper end of an elongated cable 106 is fixed.

The cable 106 extends downward through the upper part of the handle structure 18 and the compartment 82 of the housing 19 in which the container is adapted to be positioned. The lower end of the cable 106 is fixed to the outer end of a lever 107 hinged at 108 to the housing 19. When the cable 106 is raised it functions to move the lever 107 clockwise in FIG. 11 about its hinge 108 and a part 107a of the lever moves upward against the lower end of the valve stem 87 to open valve 88, as explained above. When the operating button 77 is released the spring 74 in the crossbar 21 of the handle structure 18 functions to raise rod 74 so that the shoulder 91 thereof no longer presses down on one arm of the lever 104. When this occurs the spring 96 of the valve structure 86 functions to move the valve stem 87 downward to close the valve 88 and move the disc from its seat 91.

In view of the foregoing, it will be noted that the operating button 77 is depressed to effect downward movement of the rod 74 when it is desired to dispense treating liquid from the container 61 and also to discharge liquid wax from the container 80. When the container 61 is not mounted on the bandle structure 18 on top of the housing 19, the lever 104 is in such a position on the crossarm 21 that the rod 74 and lower rod section 101 are at the immediate vicinity of the laterally offset portion 102 of the opening 103 in the lever 104, as seen in FIG. 20. Hence, when the operating button 77 is depressed and the container 61 is not mounted on the handle structure 18, the shoulder on the rod 74 can engage the lever 104 and move it clockwise in FIG. 18 and effect upward movement of the cable 106, as explained above.

However, when the container 61 is mounted on the handle structure 18, an upward extending finger 109 at the top of the container 61 exerts force on the lever 104, as seen at F in FIG. 21, to shift the lever laterally from the position shown in FIG. 20 to the position shown in FIG. 21. This is made possible by providing a bushing 110 of resilient material, such as rubber, for example, at the pivotal mounting for the lever 104 which permits the lever to shift in a direction parallel to the axis about which it pivots so that it can move from the position shown in FIG. 20 to the position shown in FIG. 21 when subjected to the force F by the finger 109 of the container 61. Under these conditions the rod 74, when the operating button 77 is depressed, can only function to impart downward movement to rod 64 in the container 61 and is not operatively associated with the lever 104. When the container 61 is removed from the handle structure 18 the resilient bushing biases the lever 104 laterally from its position in FIG. 21 to its position in FIG. 20, so that the rod 74 is again operatively associated with the lever 104.

When upward movement is imparted to the valve stem 87 of the valve structure 86 to open the valve 88, the container 80 is prevented from moving upward in the compartment 82 by an angularly movable bar when it is in the position shown in FIG. 23. It will be noted that the bottom of the bar 120 bears against the top 80a of the container 80 which slopes downward from the horizontal. The bar 120 comprises a bottom lever or half 121 and a top finger or half 122. The bottom half 121 is in the shape of an angle member having a short arm 121a at an obtuse angle to its longer arm 12111. The bottom half 121 is U-shaped in transverse section and the spaced sides thereof are apertured at 123 to receive a downward depending lug on the top finger 122 which is apertured at 124. A pin extends through the apertures 123 and 124 to pivotally connect the top and bottom halves 122 and 121 of the bar 120.

The top and bottom halves 122 and 121 are resiliently biased toward one another by a coil spring 126 of the shape shown in FIG. 25. The spring 126 includes a first coil section 1260 which is mounted on the pin 125 between the spaced sides of the bottom lever 121 alongside the apertured lug of the top finger 122. A second coil section 126b of the spring 126 is positioned below the first coil section 1260 and from the latter a spring arm 1260 extends upward and bears against a flat surface 122a of the top finger 122, so that a part 122b thereof will bear against short arm 121a of the bottom lever 121, as seen in FIG. 22.

A spring arm 126d, which has a bent end 126e, extends from the first coil section 126a and is held in an upstanding lug 127 of partitioning 128 in the housing19 which includes a vertical wall 128a extending down from the lug 127 and a small platform l28b at the bottom of the vertical wall 128a. It now will be understood that the bar 120 is supported on the partitioning 128 by the spring arm 126a and is angularly movable between the positions shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 about the pin 125 which also is supported by the spring arm 1264'. Also, the spring arm 1246c resiliently biases the top half or lever I22 toward the bottom half 121 so that the bottom and top halves 121 and 122 will be in alignment.

The bar 120 just described cooperates with a control member 130 which is provided in the cover 40 of the housing 19. As best seen in FIG. 4, the cover 40 is formed with an opening 131 adapted to be opened and closed by the control member 130 which is in the form of a shutter or screen. The outer free edge of the control shutter 130 is provided with two flanges 132 and 133, one of which projects upward and the other downward, as seen in FIG. 22.

When it is desired to operate the apparatus to effect suction cleaning in the manner explained above, the control shutter 130 is moved to its closed position shown in FIG. 22 with the flange 132 bearing against an edge of the opening 131. The conduit 43 in the cover 40 and through which dirtladen air flows to the dust bag 44, is provided with an opening 134. As will be best understood from FIG. 4, the control shutter 130 in its closed position will overlie the opening 134 in the conduit 43 and hence the only air that can flow to dust bag 44 when the motor-fan unit is being operated will be the dirt-laden air flowing through the conduit 43 from the suction nozzle 48.

When the control shutter 130 is in its closed position, it also will overlie the large end of the funnel 70 so that the container 61 cannotbe mounted on the handle structure 18 on top of the housing 19. This is so because the control shutter. 130 under these conditions will prevent the bottom-tapered part 61b of the container 61 from nesting in the funnel 70. In addition, the bar 120 remains in an erect or upright position when the control shutter 130 is closed, as shown in FIG. 22. Under these conditions, the bar 120 cannot function to prevent upward movement of the wax container 80 when an attempt is made to move valve stem 87 upward by pushing down the operating button 77.

With the control shutter 130 closed and the apparatus 10 functioning as a suction cleaner, it will be understood that the brushes 11, 12 and 14 will be driven to buff and polish a surface being treated. However, under these conditions no wax can be dispensed on the surface from the wax container 80 and no treating liquid can be discharged from the container 61 for the reason that it cannot be mounted on the handle structure 18.

When the control shutter 130 is moved from its closed position in FIG. 22 to its open position in FIG. 23, the flange 133 acts on the top half 122 of the bar 120, and, due to the resilient biasing action of the spring arm 126C which holds the top half 122 against the bottom half 121 of the bar, the bar as a unitary structure will be moved angularly in a clockwise direction about the pin 125 and move the bottom half 122 of the bar 120 against the sloping top surface 80a of the container 80 to prevent the latter from moving upward in the compartment 82 of the housing 19 when upward movement is imparted to the valve stem 87 of the valve structure 86 at the bottom of the container.

In the event the cover of the housing 19 should be opened while the control shutter 130 is open and the bar 120 is acting on the top surface 80:: of the container, the bar 120 will then move to an erect or upright position, as shown in FIG. 24. If the cover 40 is now moved back to its closed position while the control shutter 130 remains open, the flange 133 on the shutter 130 will be to the right of the bar 120. In order to be able to move the bar 120 to its operative position against the top surface 80a of the container 80, it now is necessary to initially move the control shutter 130 toward its closed position past the top half 122 of the bar so that the difi'erent parts will be in the positions shown in FIG. 22. Thereafter, the control shutter 130 can be moved to its open position and theflange 133 will function to move the bar 120 to its inclined position in FIG. 23 against the top surface 80a of the container.

The control shutter 130 can move from its position in FIG. 24 to its position in FIG. 23 because, when the flange 133 strikes the top half 122 of the bar 120, the top half 122 will pivot counterclockwise about the pin 125 against the resilient biasing action of the spring arm 126e, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 24.'While the top half 122 is being moved about the pin 125 in this manner the vertical wall 128a functions to hold the bottom half 121 in an erect or upright position. When the flange 133 moves clear of the top half 122 of the bar 120, both halves of the bar 120 will assume an upright position with the flange 133 at the left of the bar 120, as shown in FIG. 22.

When the control shutter 130 is in its open position seen in FIG. 4 the shutter does not overlie the opening 34 in the conduit 43. Hence, when the brushes II, 12 and 14 are being driven by the motor 17, the fan 24 will function to draw air into the dust bag 44. However, all of this air is not flowing from the nozzle 48 and a large part of it will be ambient air drawn into the conduit 43 through the opening 134. Under these conditions the apparatus 10 cannot function properly asa suction cleaner.

We claim:

1. In surface-treating apparatus of the class described comprising a. a base including rotatable surface treating means movable over a surface to be treated,

b. means including an electric motor for driving said rotatable surface-treating means,

c. a container for holding a body of liquid wax,

d. means for mounting said container on the apparatus,

e. mechanism for dispensing liquid wax from said container onto the surface,

f. a suction cleaner having an inlet for air at the vicinity of said rotatable surface treating means and an outlet for air,

g. a passageway for air between the air inlet and outlet,

h. a fan driven by said motor for moving air through said passageway,

i. a dust bag in said passageway between the air inlet and said fan,

j. the passageway having an opening to the atmosphere between the air inlet and said dust bag, and

k. a control member movable between first and second positions, said control member in its first position functioning to close the opening in said passageway and render said mechanism inoperable to dispense liquid wax from said container and in its second position functioning to uncover the opening in said passageway and render said mechanism operable to dispense wax from said container.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. a vessel for holding a body of liquid treating agent,

b. means for mounting said vessel on the apparatus,

c. said last-mentioned means being rendered operable when said control member is in its second position and being rendered inoperable when said control member is in its first position, and

d. mechanism for dispensing liquid treating agent from said vessel onto the surface.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said mechanism for dispensing liquid wax and said mechanism for dispensing liquid treating agent includes structure which is operatively associated with both mechanisms, said structure functioning in one manner to dispense liquid wax from said container when said vessel for liquid treating agent is not mounted on the apparatus and functioning in another manner to dispense liquid treating agent from said vessel when the latter is mounted on the apparatus.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. a housing having a compartment for said container, said container having an outlet at the bottom thereof,

b. valve structure at the bottom of said container including a vertically movable valve stem and a valve mounted thereon for dispensing a quantity of liquid wax from the outlet of said container each time said valve stem is moved upward from a valve closed position and returned thereto, and

c. said mechanism for dispensing liquid wax from said container including first means for imparting upward movement to said valve stem and second means to prevent upward movement of said container in said compartment when upward movement is imparted to said valve stem by said first means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which a. said control member comprises a shutter which closes the opening in said passageway in its first position and uncovers said opening in its second position,

said second means of said mechanism comprising a bar,

c. means for mounting said bar for pivotal movement,

d. said shutter having a part which, in the first position of said shutter, is out of physical contact with said bar,

e. resilient means for biasing said bar to an inoperative position when said shutter is in its first position, and

f. said shutter part functioning to move said bar about its pivot from its inoperative position to an operative position when said shutter is moved from its first position to its second position, and

g. said bar in its operative position acting on said container to prevent the latter from moving upward in said compartment.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said bar comprises a. top and bottom halves pivotally connected to one another,

b. said halves being so constructed and arranged that they move in one direction as a unitary member when said shutter part contacts said bar to move the latter about its pivot from its inoperative to its operative position responsive to movement of said shutter from its first to its second position and said top half moves with respect to said bottom half in the opposite direction when said bar is in its inoperative position and is contacted by said shutter part responsive to movement of said shutter from its second position to its first position.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. handle structure,

b. means for pivotally connecting the lower end of said handle structure to said base,

c. a housing carried by said handle structure,

d. said electric motor, fan, dust bag and container being disposed in said housing, and

e. said wax-dispensing mechanism including an operating member on said handle structure near the outer free end thereof beyond said housing.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which includes a. handle structure,

b. means for pivotally connecting the lower end of said handle structure to said base,

0. a housing carried by said handle structure at a region removed from the outer end thereof,

d. said electric motor, fan, dust bag and container being disposed in said housing,

e. said vessel being installed on said handle structure by said mounting means on top of said housing, and

f. both said wax-dispensing mechanism and said liquid treating agent dispensing mechanism including operating means on said handle structure near the outer free end thereof beyond said vessel.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said operating means on said handle structure includes a common operating member.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which said operating means on said handle structure includes motion-transmitting means which operatively associates said operating member only with said wax-dispensing mechanism when said vessel is not installed on said handle structure and operatively associates said operating member only with said liquid treating agent dispensing mechanism when said vessel is installed on said handle structure.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. a housing having a hinged cover,

b. said electric motor, fan, dust bag and container being disposed in said housing,

c. said housing having a horizontal partition provided with an opening,

d. said dust bag including an apertured end plate and an airpermeable bag fixed thereto, said end plate being adapted to be positioned on said partition with said air-permeable bag depending downward therefrom,

e. said passageway for air including conduit means within said cover which includes a section communicating with the aperture in said end plate when said cover is closed,

' f. said housing having an opening,

3. a member which is movable between first and second positions,

h. resilient means biasing said member toward its first positron,

i. said member being movable to its second position against the biasing action of said resilient means responsive to an end plate positioned on said partition,

j. said cover being provided with a finger which projects downward therefrom when said cover is being moved toward its closed position,

k. said member having an opening therethrough which is in vertical alignment with the lower free end of said finger only when said member is in its second position whereby said finger can pass through the opening in said member to enable said cover to move to its closed position, and

1. said member in its first position blocking downward movement of said finger and preventing closing of said cover.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which the opening to the atmosphere in said passageway is provided in said conduit means within said cover, said cover having an opening, said control member comprising a shutter which, in its first position, closes the opening in said cover and in turn cioses the opening in said conduit means, said shutter in its second position being ineffective to close the opening in said cover, whereby the opening in said conduit means is open to the atmosphere.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. a nozzle at the air inlet at the underside of said base, said nozzle being elongated and having a suction inlet for drawing air from the surface over which the apparatus is moved,

b. a pan adapted to be positioned at the bottom of said base and serving as a bottom closure member therefor,

c. a member which is fixed to said pan and extends upward therefrom into the suction inlet of said nozzle, and

d. means comprising said last-mentioned member for removably attaching said pan to said nozzle.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in which said pan is formed with an elongated recessed portion adapted to extend into the suction inlet of said noule, said member fixed to said pan comprising a hollow tube projecting upward from said recessed portion and communicating with the air inlet of said passageway.

15. In surface treating apparatus of the class described comprising a. rotatable surface treating means movable over a surface to be treated,

b. means including an electric motor for driving said rotatable surface treating means,

c. a housing having a compartment,

d. a container for holding a body of liquid wax, said container being disposed in said compartment and having an outlet at the bottom thereof,

e. first mechanism including a vertically movable valve stem and a valve mounted thereon for dispensing a quantity of liquid wax from the outlet of said container each time the valve stem is moved upward from a valve closed position and returned thereto,

f. said first mechanism further including means for imparting upward movement to said valve stem,

g. second mechanism acting on said container to prevent the latter from moving upward in said compartment when upward movement is imparted to said valve stem by said movement imparting means,

h. a suction cleaner having an inlet for air at the vicinity of said rotatable surface treating means and an outlet for air which is removed from the inlet,

i. a passageway for air between the air inlet and outlet,

j. a fan driven by said motor for moving air through said passageway,

k. a dust bag in the passageway between the air inlet and said fan,

I. the passageway having an opening to the atmosphere between the air inlet and said dust bag, and

m a control member movable between first and second positions, said control member in its first position functioning to close the opening in said passageway and render said second mechanism inoperable to prevent said container from moving upward in said compartment and its second position functioning to uncover the opening in said passageway and render said second mechanism operable to prevent said container from moving upward in said compartment. 

1. In surface-treating apparatus of the class described comprising a. a base including rotatable surface treating means movable over a surface to be treated, b. means including an electric motor for driving said rotatable surface-treating means, c. a container for holding a body of liquid wax, d. means for mounting said container on the apparatus, e. mechanism for dispensing liquid wax from said container onto the surface, f. a suction cleaner having an inlet for air at the vicinity of said rotatable surface treating means and an outlet for air, g. a passageway for air between the air inlet and outlet, h. a fan driven by said motor for moving air through said passageway, i. a dust bag in said passageway between the air inlet and said fan, j. the passageway having an opening to the atmosphere between the air inlet and said dust bag, and k. a control member movable between first and second positions, said control member in its first position functioning to close the opening in said passageway and render said mechanism inoperable to dispense liquid wax from said container and in its second position functioning to uncover the opening in said passageway and render said mechanism operable to dispense wax from said container.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. a vessel for holding a body of liquid treating agent, b. means for mounting said vessel on the apparatus, c. said last-mentioned means being rendered operable when said control member is in its second position and being rendered inoperable when said control member is in its first position, and d. mechanism for dispensing liquid treating agent from said vessel onto the surface.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said mechanism for dispensing liquid wax and said mechanism for dispensing liquid treating agent includes structure which is operatively associated with both mechanisms, said structure functioning in one manner to dispense liquid wax from said container when said vessel for liquid treating agent is not mounted on the apparatus and functioning in another manner to dispense liquid treating agent from said vessel when the latter is mounted on the apparatus.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. a housing having a compartment for said container, said container having an outlet at the bottom thereof, b. valve structure at the bottom of said container including a vertically movable valve stem and a valve mounted thereon for dispensing a quantity of liquid wax from the outlet of said container each time said valve stem is moved upward from a valve closed position and returned thereto, and c. said mechanism for dispensing liquid wax from said container including first means for imparting upward movement to said valve stem and second means to prevent Upward movement of said container in said compartment when upward movement is imparted to said valve stem by said first means.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which a. said control member comprises a shutter which closes the opening in said passageway in its first position and uncovers said opening in its second position, b. said second means of said mechanism comprising a bar, c. means for mounting said bar for pivotal movement, d. said shutter having a part which, in the first position of said shutter, is out of physical contact with said bar, e. resilient means for biasing said bar to an inoperative position when said shutter is in its first position, and f. said shutter part functioning to move said bar about its pivot from its inoperative position to an operative position when said shutter is moved from its first position to its second position, and g. said bar in its operative position acting on said container to prevent the latter from moving upward in said compartment.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said bar comprises a. top and bottom halves pivotally connected to one another, b. said halves being so constructed and arranged that they move in one direction as a unitary member when said shutter part contacts said bar to move the latter about its pivot from its inoperative to its operative position responsive to movement of said shutter from its first to its second position and said top half moves with respect to said bottom half in the opposite direction when said bar is in its inoperative position and is contacted by said shutter part responsive to movement of said shutter from its second position to its first position.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. handle structure, b. means for pivotally connecting the lower end of said handle structure to said base, c. a housing carried by said handle structure, d. said electric motor, fan, dust bag and container being disposed in said housing, and e. said wax-dispensing mechanism including an operating member on said handle structure near the outer free end thereof beyond said housing.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which includes a. handle structure, b. means for pivotally connecting the lower end of said handle structure to said base, c. a housing carried by said handle structure at a region removed from the outer end thereof, d. said electric motor, fan, dust bag and container being disposed in said housing, e. said vessel being installed on said handle structure by said mounting means on top of said housing, and f. both said wax-dispensing mechanism and said liquid treating agent dispensing mechanism including operating means on said handle structure near the outer free end thereof beyond said vessel.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said operating means on said handle structure includes a common operating member.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which said operating means on said handle structure includes motion-transmitting means which operatively associates said operating member only with said wax-dispensing mechanism when said vessel is not installed on said handle structure and operatively associates said operating member only with said liquid treating agent dispensing mechanism when said vessel is installed on said handle structure.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. a housing having a hinged cover, b. said electric motor, fan, dust bag and container being disposed in said housing, c. said housing having a horizontal partition provided with an opening, d. said dust bag including an apertured end plate and an air-permeable bag fixed thereto, said end plate being adapted to be positioned on said partition with said air-permeable bag depending downward therefrom, e. said passageway for air including conduit means within said cover which includes a section communicating with the apertuRe in said end plate when said cover is closed, f. said housing having an opening, g. a member which is movable between first and second positions, h. resilient means biasing said member toward its first position, i. said member being movable to its second position against the biasing action of said resilient means responsive to an end plate positioned on said partition, j. said cover being provided with a finger which projects downward therefrom when said cover is being moved toward its closed position, k. said member having an opening therethrough which is in vertical alignment with the lower free end of said finger only when said member is in its second position whereby said finger can pass through the opening in said member to enable said cover to move to its closed position, and l. said member in its first position blocking downward movement of said finger and preventing closing of said cover.
 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which the opening to the atmosphere in said passageway is provided in said conduit means within said cover, said cover having an opening, said control member comprising a shutter which, in its first position, closes the opening in said cover and in turn closes the opening in said conduit means, said shutter in its second position being ineffective to close the opening in said cover, whereby the opening in said conduit means is open to the atmosphere.
 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a. a nozzle at the air inlet at the underside of said base, said nozzle being elongated and having a suction inlet for drawing air from the surface over which the apparatus is moved, b. a pan adapted to be positioned at the bottom of said base and serving as a bottom closure member therefor, c. a member which is fixed to said pan and extends upward therefrom into the suction inlet of said nozzle, and d. means comprising said last-mentioned member for removably attaching said pan to said nozzle.
 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in which said pan is formed with an elongated recessed portion adapted to extend into the suction inlet of said nozzle, said member fixed to said pan comprising a hollow tube projecting upward from said recessed portion and communicating with the air inlet of said passageway.
 15. In surface treating apparatus of the class described comprising a. rotatable surface treating means movable over a surface to be treated, b. means including an electric motor for driving said rotatable surface treating means, c. a housing having a compartment, d. a container for holding a body of liquid wax, said container being disposed in said compartment and having an outlet at the bottom thereof, e. first mechanism including a vertically movable valve stem and a valve mounted thereon for dispensing a quantity of liquid wax from the outlet of said container each time the valve stem is moved upward from a valve closed position and returned thereto, f. said first mechanism further including means for imparting upward movement to said valve stem, g. second mechanism acting on said container to prevent the latter from moving upward in said compartment when upward movement is imparted to said valve stem by said movement imparting means, h. a suction cleaner having an inlet for air at the vicinity of said rotatable surface treating means and an outlet for air which is removed from the inlet, i. a passageway for air between the air inlet and outlet, j. a fan driven by said motor for moving air through said passageway, k. a dust bag in the passageway between the air inlet and said fan, l. the passageway having an opening to the atmosphere between the air inlet and said dust bag, and m. a control member movable between first and second positions, said control member in its first position functioning to close the opening in said passageway and render said second mechanism inoperable to prevent said container from mOving upward in said compartment and its second position functioning to uncover the opening in said passageway and render said second mechanism operable to prevent said container from moving upward in said compartment. 